Member2.

NULL

Used gas only this year for cooking but soon we will be using the stove partially for that too. For heat it has been 100% wood the thermostats are turned off and the wiffie LOVES the wood heat. Thanks to you guys I am couple years ahead on the fuel supply.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

I am here in SC but nothing but wood in the insert so far. Last year I did not use anything other than wood heat either, here in upstate SC

High Valley Model 2500
Vogelzang Highlander (at the farm house)

Sooteater chimney cleaning system with 18ft of flexi rods

Forester: Clemson Graduate with a BS in Forestry in 04 and MFR in 06

1980 Chevy K10
1990 Ranger 2wd
Stihl MS390 (new aftermarket muffler with modd July 2013)
Husqvarna 445 (free, with a busted wrap handle)
One busted 6lb maul, one 8lb with head about to come off (All fiberglass mauls are now busted)
Hand me down wood maul (handle with some wear on it!! July 2013)
16x12 woodshed, i built!

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Me
"
"Fired" the oil man about 4 years ago, have not purchased any oil since then.
Still have about 100 gl in the tank.
Recently finished replacing the oil tank, have not had a chance to turn it on to test it,
probably should do it soon.
Last winter the furnace only turned on a few times, doubt I used more than a few gallons.
My little Regency does a pretty good job heating my house, considering it's size.

Feeling the Heat2.

NULL

Furnace has been OFF since 2009.
Noticed something with my stove the other day, went to fire up the furnace, and the blower motor is siezed.
I do have an oil filled electric portable radiator. I use it as a backup when very cold.
All wood here.

Member2.

NULL

Our oil furnace has not run this season, I did replace the exhaust flu due to it's age and condition as general/necessary maintenance. I did test fire it and the exhaust was a bit sooty. I have a maintenence scheduled because the furnace will be needed eventually.

I will proudly add that since our wood stove was installed, we averaged a little under 1/4 of a 275 gallon per winter. We 'were' using about 300 to 400 gallons prior to the Wood stove install.

At this point the wood stove has completely paid for itself and we are in the black over it. When I say wood stove I am including the stove purchase, insulated flu liner + install, chain saw, log splitter, etc.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Our oil furnace has not run this season, I did replace the exhaust flu due to it's age and condition as general/necessary maintenance. I did test fire it and the exhaust was a bit sooty. I have a maintenence scheduled because the furnace will be needed eventually.

I will proudly add that since our wood stove was installed, we averaged a little under 1/4 of a 275 gallon per winter. We 'were' using about 300 to 400 gallons prior to the Wood stove install.

At this point the wood stove has completely paid for itself and we are in the black over it. When I say wood stove I am including the stove purchase, insulated flu liner + install, chain saw, log splitter, etc.

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Don't you just love looking back on old oil bills and seeing what you use to pay?

I have a spreadsheet of energy bills that I even highlighted the months I added insulation, different window air conditioner, installation of the stove, etc. so I can see (roughly) what these improvements did to reduce the utility bills.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

Well I'm out . . . I lost the contest . . . I am no longer master of my own domain . . . temps were good last night when I went to bed so I didn't bother with starting a fire in the relatively cool stove . . . I woke up this morning to the distinctive smell of burning dust on the radiator fins . . . which of course served as motivation to get the fire back up and going.

Minister of Fire2.

NULL

10 hearth.com demerits for you Jake. You had me there for a minute, I thought you were going to say your wife took over the stove 'cause you failed.

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It's a 50-50 partnership with my wife and I . . . we both run the stove about as much as each other. When I'm home and around and she's at work I run it . . . and when I'm gone or at work she runs it . . . works out well as we're usually able to burn 24-7 in this fashion. I just figured last night the house would hold the heat until the morning . . . I was wrong.